Perth
18.1 Groundwater outflow to outside region

The Department of Water use the Perth Regional Aquifer Modelling System (PRAMS) Version 3.4 and Peel–Harvey Regional Aquifer Modelling System (PHRAMS) to estimate the natural water movement to and from the groundwater store within the Perth region.

As shown in the following figure, PRAMS estimates groundwater movement for the area north of Mandurah. PHRAMS estimates groundwater movement for the Peel–Harvey area south of Mandurah. The volumes reported in this account refer to the natural water movement that occurs within each model area within the Perth region boundary.

Map of groundwater model areas relative to the Perth region boundary

The volume reported in the water accounting statements (33,964 ML) represents the total volume of groundwater outflow to outside the Perth region boundary from aquifers within the Perth region during the 2011–12 year.

Lateral outflows from each groundwater store within the two model areas during the 2011–12 year are given in the following table.

Both groundwater models derive the lateral flux within the Perth region by defining the appropriate water balance zones and calculating the volume of water flowing across each boundary on an annual basis.

It is assumed that all groundwater flow to and from outside the region is via the north and south boundaries. There is no groundwater flow between the model areas and the Darling Range in the eastern part of the region due to the geology of that area.

Both models were initially developed for the purpose of estimating and assessing the impacts of changes in climatic conditions and varying extraction rates on the aquifers, not for the purposes of preparing water accounts. These models have since been modified to also provide data for water accounting.